Luke Cope Earns Two Chair Turns With Emotional “Burning House” Performance on The Voice
Luke Cope had to wait until almost the very end of his Blind Audition before getting the response he wanted. But when the final moments arrived, the North Carolina singer’s emotional performance of Cam’s “Burning House” convinced two coaches to turn their chairs.
The Season 30 Blind Auditions continued Monday, Oct. 5, as Queen Latifah, Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson and Riley Green continued building their teams. With every coach trying to reach a 12-member roster, the remaining spots were becoming increasingly difficult to secure.
At the start of the episode, Levine had five openings, while Latifah, Clarkson and Green each had four. The coaches had also already used all of their First-In buttons, making every remaining audition especially important.
Then Luke Cope stepped onto the stage.
Luke Cope’s emotional performance
The 33-year-old singer from Kernersville, North Carolina, chose Cam’s “Burning House” for his Blind Audition.
For much of the performance, however, none of the four coaches appeared ready to turn.
Riley Green later explained that he noticed some tempo issues at the beginning of the song, which ultimately kept him from pressing his button. But as Cope continued singing, the emotional weight of the performance became harder to overlook.
Near the end, everything changed.
Adam Levine and Queen Latifah both turned their chairs, almost simultaneously, giving Cope a two-chair turn after he had made it through nearly the entire song without one. Other coverage of the audition described it as one of the night’s most emotional performances, with Cope connecting the song to personal struggles with alcohol.
Adam Levine hears something special
Levine admitted that Cope still had areas he could improve, but the singer’s emotional connection to the song ultimately won him over.
He described Cope as “interesting” and said the performance made him stop and pay attention to what he was feeling.
The biggest moment, however, came toward the end, when Cope displayed more vocal power.
Levine believed that surge showed there was something “extremely unique and special” about the singer.
The coach’s reaction matched what other coverage of the audition highlighted: Cope’s voice had a distinctive, authentic quality, while his strongest moments came when he allowed the emotion behind the song to take over.
Queen Latifah wins the decision
Once Levine and Latifah turned, Cope had to choose between two coaches who had seen potential in him.
The decision was not easy. Cope was reportedly conflicted as he considered which team would be the right fit for his music and continued development.
In the end, he chose Queen Latifah.
That made Cope the newest member of Team Queen, joining a team that was already close to being full. After the fifth night of Blind Auditions, Latifah had 11 artists on her roster, leaving just one spot remaining, while Levine, Clarkson and Green each had 10 singers.
For Cope, the result was a dramatic turnaround. After spending almost the entire audition without a chair facing him, his final stretch was strong enough to change the outcome completely.
Two coaches turned.
And when the choice was finally his, Cope chose Queen Latifah and secured his place in the next stage of The Voice.